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Preface
5 Planes of Existence
Introduction
Five Planes of Manifestation
A to Z
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SEPHIROTH OR NUMERATIONS
These ten conditions of being constitute with
their relations a scheme of life in the invisible and visible
spheres, and they indicate the means of the soul's progress to
perfection.
“According to the Zohar, the Sephiroth are comparable to chariots
for the degrees of the Divine Essence, and the word degrees, which
is used very frequently in the text, illustrates after a simple
manner the idea of gradations in the nature of the Presence as the
spheres of manifestation proceed further from the centre. The
supernal world contains the highest degrees of which the human mind
can conceive by the intellection of faith, and Kether, Chokmah,
Binah form a unity therein." - A. E. WAITE, Secret Doctrine in
Israel, p. 33.
The three highest states are the supreme Self (Kether), the involved
Self (Chokmah), and the principle of matter (Binah), in which Spirit
is involved.
"The Sephiroth are conventionally described thus:
(1) Kether = the Crown.
(2) Chokmah = Wisdom.
(3) Binah = Understanding.
(4) Chesed = Mercy.
(5) Geburah = Severity or Judgment.
(6) Tiphereth = Beauty.
(7) Netzach = Victory.
(8) Hod = Glory.
(9) Yesod = Foundation.
(10) Malkuth = The Kingdom."
“To the first world of Atziluth are referred Kether, Chokmah and
Binah : to the second world of Briah are allocated Chesed, Geburah
and Tiphereth.” - Ibid., pp. 31, 33.
The first three Sephiroth are on the highest planes, the next three
are on the mental plane. Chesed (merit) signifies the individuality;
Geburah (demerit) the personality, and Tiphereth the perfected
causal-body and ego. Netzach and Hod signify respectively the soul's
triumph over the lower nature, and the treasure laid up in heaven.
Yesod is a symbol of the physical body through which experience is
gained and progress made possible. Malkuth is the buddhic principle
which brings about the transmutation of the lower into the higher.
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